If you look at our Sun the right way, it is magnificent. For proof, I offer this stunningly beautiful video of the nearest star taken on July 19, 2012 by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. If you can watch this without your jaw hanging open and your mind aflame with wonder, then I cannot help you.

What you’re seeing is the profound impact of magnetism on the material in the Sun. I’ve described this effect before (with lots of juicy details here), but in a nutshell: The gas inside the Sun is so hot it’s ionized, stripped of electrons...

But while some major TV networks are already putting the new technology to the test for the screen, there are fears the devices could also be used to replace the paparazzi’s prying long lenses.

”Kate Middleton and many other people besides can rest assured that their bare breasts are fair game, anywhere, any time,” the Australian Privacy Foundation’s Roger Clarke warned, in a week when snaps of the pregnant Duchess in a bikini made international headlines.

Fox Sports began using drones for aerial coverage of Twenty20 Big Bash cricket last year, while the Nine Network has conducted similar experiments at Perth’s WACA ground in Australia.

Moving to mainstream … remote-controlled aerial devices equipped with a camera can cost as little as $350.

Each UAV measures just 4 x 1 inches (10 x 2.5cm) and weighs a mere 0.6 ounces (16 grams), making it easy for troops to carry along with the rest of their gear. A built-in camera transmits live video and still images to a handheld control unit at a range of up to half a mile (800 meters).

The Black Hornet Nano flies like a mini helicopter, but is stable enough to withstand harsh conditions and heavy wind. On a full charge, the tiny UAV can fly up to 30 minutes at a top speed of 22 mph (35 km/h), giving soldiers on the ground ample time to quickly survey an area. An operator can also use the control unit to pilot the drone directly or input a set of GPS coordinates for it to follow on its own.